Luciano Spalletti (C), manager of Napoli, looks on during the Serie A game against Inter Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, Italy, May 21, 2023. /CFP
Luciano Spalletti, manager of the Serie A's Napoli, confirmed on Monday that he will not manage the club after the 2022-23 season.
"Out of respect for the club I told De Laurentiis straightaway that I needed to take a year off," Spalletti said. "I'm a bit tired and want to spend time with my daughter Matilde."
Having taken over Napoli in July 2021, the Italian manager helped Napoli win 61 of their 95 games and secure the club's first Serie A title in 33 years this season. They also reached the YEFA Champions League semifinals where they lost to AC Milan. Spalletti still has one year left of his current contract with Napoli.
"He is a free man. After 50 years in cinema [as producer], and so many exclusives with directors, actors, when someone comes to you and says: 'After all, I've done my best, a cycle of my life has ended, I still have a contract with you, but I'd rather have a sabbatical year.' What are you going to do, are you going to oppose it?" Napoli's owner Aurelio De Laurentiis said on Sunday. "You have to be generous in life, I never expect anything in return. He gave us, I thank him, now it's right that he continues to do what he loves to do."
Players of Napoli toss their manager Luciano Spalletti to celebrate winning the 2022-23 Serie A title at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, Italy, May 7, 2023. /CFP
Former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is reportedly a candidate to success Spalletti. So is Rafael Benitez, who managed Napoli between 2013 and 2015.
The 2022-23 Serie A campaign will come to an end this week as Napoli host Sampdoria at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples on Sunday. It will be the final game of Spalletti as their manager.
"I have so many things inside, because to build a Scudetto-winning campaign like we did you need the contribution of every component. Certainly, the warmth and love of the people of Naples is what made the difference," Spalletti said. "Naples was obviously under my skin and I have brought out what I already had inside me after these two years. This city, this group, these people, they all deserve the happiness we are experiencing."